Sensex closes fiscal 2012-13 with 131 points gain

Mumbai, March 28 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities markets closed more than half a percent up on the last day of 2012-13 financial year Thursday on the back of healthy buying in metal, bank and capital goods stocks and settlement of monthly derivatives contracts.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened in the red at 18,702.46 points, closed at 18,835.77 points, up 0.70 percent or 131.24 points from its previous day's close at 18,704.53 points.

The Sensex slumped to a low of 18,568.43 points in intra-day trade and touched a high of 18,888.22 points.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also closed 0.73 percent or 40.95 points up at 5,682.55 points.

Traders said revival of buying happened in the second half of the trading session after European markets opened higher and on short-covering on the expiry of the derivatives segment on the last day of March.

Of the 30 Sensex scrips, 21 closed in the positive. Gail India, up 5.02 percent at Rs.319.15; Hindalco Inds, up 3.98 percent at Rs.91.50; ONGC, up 2.29 percent at Rs.311.55; Sterlite Inds, up 2.91 percent at Rs.93.80; and HDFC Bank, up 2.70 percent at Rs.631 were among the major Sensex gainers.

Only 11 of the 30 Sensex scrips were losers: Tata Motors, down 2.16 percent at Rs.269.30, Hero MotoCorp, down 1.95 percent at Rs.1,541.90; Bharti Airtel, down 1.77 percent at Rs.291.80; Jindal Steel, down 1.35 percent at Rs.348.15; and Hindustan Unilever, down 1.34 percent at Rs.466.10.

The BSE and the NSE will remain closed March 29 on account of Good Friday.